Door-operating mechanism

ABSTRACT

THE DOOR-OPERATING MECHANISM IS FOR USE IN SEQUENTIALLY MANUALLY OPENING THEN AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING THEN AUTOMATICALLY OPENING AND THEN MANUALLY CLOSING A DOOR THAT IS ARRANGED TO BE URGED TOWARD ITS CLOSED POSITION BY GRAVITY, THE MECHANISM COMPRISING A FIRST LATCH MECHANISM HAVING A FIRST CONDITION FOR HOLDING THE DOOR IN ITS OPEN POSITION AND HAVING A SECOND CONDITION FOR RELEASING THE DOOR, A DOOR-OPENING WEIGHT CONNECTABLE TO THE DOOR FOR AUTOMATICALLY PIVOTING THE DOOR FROM ITS CLOSED POSITION TO ITS OPEN POSITION, A SECOND LATCH MECHANISM HAVING A FIRST CONDITION FOR CONNECTING THE DOOR-OPENING WEIGHT TO THE DOOR AND HAVING A SECOND CONDITION FOR HOLDING THE WEIGHT FREE OF THE DOOR, AN ACTUATOR FOR SELECTIVELY OPERATING THE FIRST AND SECOND LATCH MECHANISMS, AND A SELECTOR FOR SELECTIVELY RENDERING THE ACTUATOR OPERABLE TO CHANGE THE CONDITION OF ONLY ONE OF THE FIRST AND SECOND LATCH MECHANISMS AT ONE TIME.

Sept. 28, 1971 D. F. BRAUN 3, 3, 4

DOOR-OPERATING MECHANISM Original Filed June 5, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 t. 28, 1971 n. F. BRAUN DOOR-OPERATING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed June 5. 1968 Sept. 28, 1971 F, BR N DOOR-OPERATING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Original Filed June 5, 1968 QQ NE :3

p 28. 1971 D. F. BRAUN 3,608,242

DOOR-OPERATING MECHANISM Original Filed June 5. 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,608,242 DOOR-OPERATING MECHANISM Donald F. Braun, 26 Gwynne St., Mount Waverley, Victoria, Australia Continuation of application Ser. No. 733,856, June 3, 1968. This application Mar. 3, 1970, Ser. No. 16,231 Claims priority, application Australia, June 6, 1967, 22,758/ 67 Int. Cl. E05f 15/04 US. Cl. 49-280 50 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The door-operating mechanism is for use in sequentially manually opening then automatically closing then automatically opening and then manually closing a door that is arranged to be urged toward its closed position by gravity, the mechanism comprising a first latch mechanism having a first condition for holding the door in its open position and having a second condition for releasing the door, a door-opening weight connectable to the door for automatically pivoting the door from its closed position to its open position, a second latch mechanism having a first condition for connecting the door-opening weight to the door and having a second condition for holding the weight free of the door, an actuator for selectively operating the first and second latch mechanisms, and a selector for selectively rendering the actuator operable to change the condition of only one of the first and second latch mechanisms at one time.

This is a continuation of my previously filed copending application Ser. No. 733,856, filed on June 3, 1968 now abandoned for Door Operating Mechanism.

This invention is directed to a door-operating mechanism using a door-opening weight and latch mechanisms automatically to open and close an associated door and to lock the door in and release it from its open position.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an improved door-operating mechanism which is reliable, yet relatively inexpensive.

Another object is to provide a door-operating mechanism having a door-opening weight that is connectable to the door for automatic opening thereof.

Another object, in connection with the foregoing object, is to provide a door-operating mechanism which locks the door in the open position thereof and releases the door from the locked position without connecting the dooropening weight to the door.

Another object is to provide a door-operating mechanism for opening and closing a door that is pivotal about a fixed pivot axis.

Another object is to provide a door-operating mechanism which does not require the standard door lock as an essential element thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dooroperating mechanism for use with a door pivotally mounted in an associated building door-receiving opening to accommodate a manual door-opening operation followed by an automatic door-closing operation and then by an automatic door-opening operation and then by a manual door-closing operation, the door-operating mechanism comprising first latch mechanism having a door-holding condition for holding the associated door in the open position thereof against the urging of gravity subsequent to a manual door-opening operation and having a doorreleasing condition, a door-opening weight for the associated door and operative when connected thereto automatically to move the door from the closed position to the open position thereof to accomplish an automatic dooropening operation, second latch mechanism having a weight-connecting condition for connecting the door-openmg weight to the associated door to effect an automatic door-opening operation and having a weight-holding condition, an actuator selectively operable on the first latch mechanism for selectively operating the first latch mechanism between the door-holding condition and the doorreleasing condition thereof and selectively operable on the second latch mechanism for selectively operating the second latch mechanism between the weight-holding condition and the weight-connecting condition thereof, and a selector for selectively rendering the actuator operable to change the condition of only one of the first and second latch mechanisms at one time to cause positive operation of the selected one of the latch mechanisms by the actuator, whereby after a manual door-opening operation the first latch mechanism is in the door-holding condition thereof and the second latch mechanism is in the weightholding condition thereof and the selector renders the actuator operable to operate the first latch mechanism to the door-re1easing condition to effect an automatic door-closing operation, and thereafter the second latch mechanism is in the weight-holding condition and the selector renders the actuator operable to operate the second latch mechanism from the weight-holding condition to the weight-connecting condition thereof to effect an automatic door-opening operation, and thereafter a manual door-closing operation causes the selector to render the second latch mechanism from the weight-connecting condition to the weight-holding condition thereof.

In connection with the foregoing object, another object of the invention is to provide a door-operating mechanism wherein the actuator includes an hydraulically-operated motor having a cylinder and a piston operatively mounted therein and coupled to the first and second latch mechanisms, and a vehicle-operated control positioned in use in front of the associated door-receiving opening and coupled to the motor and operable when struck by a vehicle to operate the motor and thus change the conditions of one of the latch mechanisms.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dooroperating mechanism of the type set forth wherein the first latch mechanism includes a first keeper on the door and a first latch portion associated with the first keeper, and the second latch mechanism includes a second keeper on the door-opening weight and a second latch portion associated with the second keeper.

In connection with the foregoing object, another object of the invention is to provide a door-operating mechanism wherein a pair of counterbalancing weight is provided on the door and movable therewith between a raised station and a lowered station and constructed and arranged so that the door is biased toward the closed position thereof under the urging of gravity.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is a further object of the invention to provide a door-operating mechanism wherein a pair of bases on the door respectively carry the counterbalancing weights, a pivotally mounted base carries the door-operating weight, and a door-opening member is disposed on the counterbalancing weight and is engageable by the door-opening weight automatically to open the door.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a door-operating mechanism of the type set forth wherein the door and the door-opening weight are pivotal about a pivot axis fixed with respect to the building.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement whereby the above outlined and additional features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of construction, together with other objects and advantages, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an automobile in front of a garage having therein a garage door and a door-operating mechanism incorporating the features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear-elevational view of the garage door of FIG. 1 as seen in the direction of the arrows along the lines 22 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the door-operating mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a hingedly-mounted plate and the latch carried thereby forming a part of the door-operating mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side-elevational view of the door-operating mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the door-operating mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front-elevational view of the door-operating mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side-elevational view of the disc and the arm for carrying the door-opening mass;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side-elevational view of the disc and the arm for carrying the counterbalancing mass;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary front-elevational view, with portions broken away, of the door-operating mechanism in the door-closed condition thereof and showing the hydraulically-operated motor in longitudinal cross section;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary front-elevational view, with certain portions broken away, of the door-operating mechanism with the parts in the positions thereof after a manual door-opening operation;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary front-elevational view, with certain portions broken away, of the door-operating mechanism with the parts in the positions thereof after an automatic door-opening operation,

FIGS. 13 and 14 are schematic views of the door and the door-operating mechanism during a manual dooropening operation;

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of the door and the dooroperating mechanism after a manual door-opening operation has been completed;

FIG. 16 is a schematic view of the door and the dooroperating mechanism when the door is in the closed position thereof;

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of the door and the dooroperating mechanism after an automatic door-opening operation has been completed; and

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of the door and the door-operating mechanism during a manual door-closing operation.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown an automobile 30 having a set of tires 31 and being supported by a driveway 32 that leads to a garage 40. The garage 40 is shown in phantom and includes a pair of side walls 42 (only one being shown), a front wall 43 at the front ends of the side walls 42, and a sloping roof 41 supported by the side walls 42 and the front wall 43. Formed in the front wall 43 is a door-receiving opening 44 (FIG. 2) in which there is pivotally mounted a one-piece door 50 that is pivotal between a closed position wherein it cover the opening 44, and an open position wherein it lies adjacent to the top of the opening 44 in a substantially horizontal position. There is provided an inside handle 51 on the door 50 adjacent to the lower end thereof to be grasped by a user on the inside of the garage 40 manually to open and to close the door 50; and an outside handle 52 is provided for manual operation of the door 50 from the outside of the garage 40. There is provided a door-operating mechanism 60 for accommodating pivoting of the door between the closed and open positions thereof both manually and automatically. A pliable hydraulic hose 55 is connected to the door-operating mechanism 60 and extends to a point substantially in front of the garage 40, the hose 55 being connected to an automobile-operated control 56 lying across the driveway 32 in the path of travel of the automobile 30 to and from the garage for use in automatically opening and closing the door 50.

In accordance with the present invention, when the automobile 30 is in the garage 40, the user grasps one of the handles 51 or 52, as the case may be, and manually opens the door, and, when the door reaches its fullyopened position, it becomes latched in place. Because of the counterbalancing arrangement provided by the door-operating mechanism 60, and because the user has not entered his automobile yet, there is no difliculty or inconvenience in manually opening the door 50. The user then drives the automobile out of the garage 40-, and eventually the rear ones of the wheels 31 will strike the automobile-operated control 56 which releases the door from its latched-open position, and the door then automatically closes under the urging of gravity. When the automobile returns some time later and strikes the control 56, the door 50 will automatically open, thereby permitting the user to drive the automobile back into the garage 40. The user then leaves the automobile and manually closes the door 50. Again, it is not diflicult or inconvenient manually to close the door after returning the automobile to the garage, because the user has to leave the automobile anyway. But when the automobile is driven from the garage 40, it is most inconvenient to have to leave the automobile to close the door 50; and, similarly, upon returning to the garage, it is most inconvenient to have to leave the automobile to open the door 50. The invention to be described provides automatic closing and opening at these times, according to following sequence: manual opening, automatic closing, automatic opening, and manual closing.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 9, the garage 40 has a door frame 45 disposed adjacent to the sides and the top of the periphery of the door-receiving opening 44, the frame 45 including a pair of spaced side walls 47 joined by a main wall 46, it being understood that the frame 45 is optional and the parts hereinafter stated to be mounted thereon may be instead directly mounted on the building. Disposed on the right side (as viewed in FIG. 2) of the door frame 45 is a door-operating mechanism and disposed on the left side of the door frame 45 is a door-operating mechanism 110. The door-operating mechanism 60 includes a door-support bracket 61 having an attachment flange 62, and a mounting flange 63 extending rearwardly therefrom. The mounting flange 63 has a front side portion 64 disposed against the adjacent frame side wall 47, a connecting side portion 65 extending rearwardly and inwardly (with respect to the garage 40) from the front side portion 64, and a rear side portion 66 extending rearwardly from the connecting side portion 65, the outer surface of the rear side portion 66 defining a reaction surface 68 for use as will be explained subsequently. Formed in the rear side portion '66 is a threaded opening 67 and rectangular slot 69 (FIGS. 10 to 12). The attachment flange 62 is secured to the door frame main wall 46 by use of a set of nuts 70 and bolts 71, thereby to secure the door-support bracket 61 to the garage 40.

The door-operating mechanism 60 further includes a door-mounting bracket disposed adjacent to the doorsupport bracket 61. The door-mounting bracket 80 has an attachment flange 81 and a mounting flange 82 extending rearwardly therefrom, the mounting flange 82 having an arcuate cut-out 83 (FIG. 5) in the free end thereof. The attachment flange 81 is secured to the door 50 adjacent the right side thereof by means of nuts 84 and bolts 85, thereby to secure the door-mounting bracket 80 to the door 50.

There is further provided a counterbalancing weight assembly including a base in the formof a flat circular disc 91, which may be integral with the mounting flange 82, the disc 91 being mounted in the mounting flange cut-out 83, as by welding at 92 (FIG. 6), thereby fixedly to secure the disc 91 to the door 50. Referring particularly to FIG. 9, there is provided in the periphery of the disc 91 a keeper 93 formed by an arcuate notch having an abutment surface 94 on one side thereof, an abutment plate 89 overlying a portion of the notch, a second notch 95 being located in the periphery of the disc 91 and spaced about from the keeper 93 and having a radial depth exceeding the radial depth of the notch forming the keeper 93. There is further provided a limiting bracket 97 (FIG. 7) having an attachment flange 98 and an offset abutment flange 99 aligned with the notch to limit the excursion of a latch arm 167 slidably movable therein, the attachment flange 98 being connected to the inwardly facing surface of the disc '91, as by welding at 98a. Lastly, a hole 96 is provided in the disc 91 approximately centrally thereof for use in pivotally mounting the disc 91 to the door-support bracket 61.

The counterbalancing weight assembly 90 finally includes a substantially-rigid arm 100 connected to the inwardly facing surface of the disc 91, as by welding at 101 (FIG. 7). Carried on the free end of the arm 100 and spaced from the disc 91 is a counterbalancing mass 102 in the form of a rectangular block, the counterbalancing mass 102 having a tongue 103 directed outwardly. A bolt 150 passes through an opening (not shown) in the support bracket 61 and through the opening 96 (FIG. 9) in the disc 91, a nut 151 and a jam nut 152 (FIG. 7) being mounted on the free end of the bolt 150, thereby freely pivotally to mount the counterbalancing weight assembly 90 and the righthand portion of the door 50 the door support bracket 61, the counterbalancing mass 102 being biased under the urging of gravity, in the counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 5) and from the raised station thereof when the door 50 is closed toward the lowered station thereof when the door 50 is open.

There is also disposed on the left side (as viewed in FIG. 2) of the door frame 45 a door-opening mechanism 110, having essentially the same construction as the door-operating mechanism 60, as described thus far, but being the mirror image thereof. The door-operating mechanism includes a door-support bracket 111 having an attachment flange 112, and a mounting flange 113- extending rearwardly therefrom, the attachment flange 112 being connected to the door frame main wall 46. The door-operating mechanism 110 also includes a door mounting bracket disposed adjacent to the door support bracket 111, the door-mounting bracket 120 having an attachment flange 12.1 and a mounting flange (not shown) extending rearwardly therefrom. There is further provided a counterbalancing weight assembly having a disc 131 attached to the mounting flange, and a substantially rigid arm 132 attached to the disc 131, the arm 132 carrying a counterbalancing mass 133 in the form of a rectangular block disposed outwardly of the disc 131. The door-mounting bracket 120 and the counterbalancing weight assembly 130 carried thereby are pivotally mounting to the door-support bracket 110 by means of a bolt 134, the counterbalancing mass 133 being biased under the urging of gravity, in the counterclockwise direction and from the raised station thereof when the door 50 is closed toward the lowered station when the door 50 is open. The door 50 and the counterbalancing masses 102 and 133 are pivotal about the fixed pivot axis defined by the bolt 134 and the bolt 150. The door-support brackets 61 and 111 and the associated door-mounting brackets 80 and 120 are disposed above the center of gravity of the door 50, the counterbalancing masses 102 and 133 being spaced outwardly so as to provide a counterclockwise turning movement about the pivot axis thereof of slightly less magnitude than the colckwise turning movement of the door 50 so as to facilitate a manual door-opening operation, yet biasing the door 50 toward the closed position thereof to assist in performing an automatic door-closing operation.

The door-operating mechanism 60 on the right side of the door-receiving opening 44 (as viewed in FIG. 2) further comprises a door-opening Weight assembly 140, including a base in the form of a flat circular disc 141. Referring particularly to FIG. 8, there is provided in the periphery of the disc 141 a keeper 142 in the form of an arcuate notch having an abutment surface 143 on one side thereof. The door-opening weight assembly also includes a substantially-rigid arm 144 having an attachment portion 145 and an outwardly-offset portion 146 (FIG. 3), the attachment portion 145 being secured to the outwardly-facing surface of the disc 141, as by welding at 147 (-FIG. 7). Disposed on the free end of the outwardly-offset portion 146 is a door-opening mass 148 in the form of a rectangular block that is disposed outwardly with respect to the disc 141 and disposed over the door-opening member or tongue 103, whereby the mass 148 can engage the tongue 103 for opening the door 50. Approximately centrally of the disc 141 is a hole 149, the bolt 150 passing therethrough, through an opening (not shown) in the door-support bracket 61, through the hole 96 in the disc 91, and finally engaging the nuts 151 and 152, whereby the door-opening mass 148 is pivotal about the pivot axis defined by the bolt 150, that being the same fixed pivot axis about which the door *50 pivots. The door-opening mass 148 is biased in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 8, and from the raised position toward the lowered position thereof under the urging of gravity.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, the dooroperating mechanism 60 further comprises a piano hinge 161 having attachment flanges 162 and 163, the attachment flange 162. being welded at 162a (FIG. 5) to the front side portion 64 of the mounting flange 63, the attachment flange 163 being welded at 163a (FIG. 6) to the longer end of a trapezoidally-shaped plate 164 having a pair of openings 165 and 166 therein. The plate 164 carries on the shorter end thereof an inwardly-extending one-piece integral latch arm 167, the latch arm 167 carrying a hook 169 on the free end thereof, a notch 168 being provided in the latch arm 167 adjacent to the hook 169. The portion of the latch arm 167 adjacent to the notch 168 defines a first latch portion 173, and the portion of the latch arm adjacent thereto defines a second latch portion 174. There are a set of abutment surfaces 170, 171 and 172 on the hook 169 and in the notch 168, which set of abutment surfaces acts as a selector for selecting the position of the latch portions 173 and 174, as will be explained subsequently. The latch arm 167 and the hook 169 pass through the slot 69 (FIGS. 10-12) in the door support bracket 61 and through the notch by the keeper 93 and the notch 95 in the disc 91 and through the notch by the keeper 142 in the disc 141, as will be explained in more detail hereinafter. Referring particularly to FIG. 10, a headed bolt 176 passes through the hole 166 in the plate 164 and threadedly engages the hole 67 in the door support bracket 61. A compression spring 177 is supported by the bolt 176 and is disposed between the head thereof and the plate 164, whereby the plate 164, and the latch arm 167 carried thereby, are urged through the notches in the discs 91 and 141 inwardly. A nut 178 on the bolt 176 and disposed against the mounting flange 63 is used to adjust the amount of compression in the spring 177.

Referring to FIG. 10, the door-operating mechanism 60 finally comprises an hydraulically-operated motor 180 including a cylinder 181 and a piston 182 slidably mounted therein, the piston 182 carrying a pair of standard sealing O-rings 183. A reduced cross-sectional threaded extension 184 on the cylinder 181 passes through the opening 165 in the plate 164 and is fixedly mounted thereon by means of a pair of nuts 185 and 186 threadedly engaging the extension 184. A piston rod 187 is slidably journaled in the extension 184, with the threaded end 188 thereof threadedly engaging the piston 182, the free end of the piston rod abutting against the reaction surface 68 of the door-sup port bracket 61. There is further provided a compression spring 189 encircling the piston rod 187 and disposed in the space between the piston 182 and the facing end wall of the cylinder 181, the compression spring 189 urging the piston rod 187 away from the reaction surface 68. A cylinder head 190 carrying a sealing O-ring 191 threadedly engages the opopsite end of the cylinder 181 to define a chamber between the piston 182 and the cylinder head 198 for containing a fluid 194 such as oil therein. Mounted at the inlet 192 of the head 190 is a valve 193, the valve 193 being connected to the pliable hydraulic hose 55 that leads to the automobile operated control 56 positioned in front of the garage 40. Compression of the control 56 forces the fluid 194 against the piston 182 to overcome the outward force of the compression spring 189 and urge the piston rod 187 against the reaction surface 68, thereby to move the plate 164 and the associated latch arm 167 outwardly with respect to the door-support bracket 61 and against the inwardly directed force of the compression spring 177.

In FIG. 10, the door operating mechanism 60 is in the condition thereof when the door 50 is closed. In the door-closed condition, the hook 169 on the end of the latch arm 167 is aligned with the notch 95 in the disc 91 and the limiting bracket thereon, whereby the hook 169 passes through the notch 95 under the urging of the compression spring 177. The excursion of the arm 167 is limited due to the abutment surface 170 of the hook 169 engaging the limiting bracket abutment flange 99. In this condition, the adjacent portion of the periphery of the disc 91 is disposed within the notch 168 whereby the disc 91 is free to pivot about its fixed pivot axis; and since the disc 91 is fixedly attached to the door 50 via the doormounting bracket 80, the door 50 is in condition to be subsequently opened. In the door-closed condition of FIG. 10, the second latch portion 174 is disposed within the keeper 142 on the disc 141, and, because the door-opening mass 148 tends to rotate in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. under the urging of gravity, the abutment surface 143 in the keeper 142 engages the latch portion 174 thereby to preclude rotation of the door-opening mass 148.

The door 50 can then be manually opened since the disc 91 is free to rotate, the gravitational urging of the counterbalancing masses 102 and 133 in the counterclockwise direction serving to facilitate the manual door-opening operation. When the door 50 is pivoted slightly, the disc 91 also pivots to carry the limiting bracket 97 out of engagement with the hook 169, but the abutment surface 172 in the latch notch 168 engages the dajacent surface of the disc 91, thereby preventing inward movement of the latch arm 167 in spite of the inward urging thereof by the compression spring 177 thereby to permit continued manual opening of the door 50. Upon completion of the manual door-opening operation as shown in FIG. 11 and shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 6 labeled with corresponding reference numerals followed by the letter a, the disc 91 has rotated about 90 and the latch arm 167 becomes aligned with the keeper 93 in the disc 91, and the compression spring 177 drives the latch arm 167 therethrough. As previously explained, the door 50 overcomes the gravitational urging of the counterbalancing masses 102 and 133 in the counterclockwise direction and therefore tends to close or rotate in the clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 5) to cause the abutment plate 89' to engage the first latch portion 173 of the latch arm 167, thereby to lock the door 50 in the full open position thereof. As the hook 169 moves inwardly, the second latch portion 174 slides within the keeper 142 on the disc 141 and continues to be engaged by the abutment surface 143, thereby to continue to preclude rotation of the door-opening mass 148.

Assuming that the user has heretofore driven his automobile 30 in a forward direction into the garage 40 and is now about to back the automobile 30 out of the garage 40, the rear wheels of the automobile 30 will first strike the control 56 to force fluid into the cylinder 181 and against the piston 182, When the fluid 194 is forced into the cylinder 181 and against the piston 182, the piston rod 87 is driven inwardly against the reaction surface 68, thereby to urge the plate 164 outwardly which in turn carries the latch arm 167 outwardly. The outward excursion of the latch arm 167 is halted when the abutment surface 171 of the hook 169 engages the adjacent surface of the abutment plate 89 which is in alignment therewith, such movement of the latch arm 167 moving the second latch portion 163 out of engagement with the abutment plate 89 thus to permit a partial closing of the door under the urging of gravity. It will be noted that the latch portion 173 now moves into engagement with the abutment surface 94 thus to hold the door 50 in a partially closed position. A short time thereafter the front wheels of the automobile 30 will strike the control 56 which serves again to force the fluid 194 into the cylinder 1'81 and against the piston 182, the piston rod 187 being driven inwardly against the reaction surface 68, thereby to urge the plate 168 again outwardly which in turn carries the latch arm 167 again outwardly. This outward excursion of the latch arm 167 is halted when the abutment surface 171 of the hook 169 engages the adjacent surface of the disc 91, whereupon the adjacent portion of the periphery of the disc 91 is again disposed within the notch 168 in the latch arm 167, whereby the disc 91 is free to pivot with the door 50 about the fixed pivot axis thereof. This time the door 50 will move to the fully closed position thereof, and such automatic closure will restore the door operating mechanism to the condition illustrated in FIG. 10.

When additional fluid is forced into the cylinder 181 and against the piston 182, the piston rod 187 is driven further inwardly against the reaction surface 68, thereby to draw the latch arm 167 further outwardly and draw the hook 169 through the notch 95 and into the space between the discs 91 and 141 as shown in FIG. 12, and as shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 6 labeled with corresponding reference numerals followed by the letter b. In this condition, the adjacent portion of the periphery of the disc 141 is disposed within the notch 168, whereby the disc 141 is free to pivot about its fixed pivot axis as defined by the bolt (FIG. 7), to permit the dooropening mass 148 to pivot in the counterclockwise direction under the urging of gravity, whereupon it engages the tongue 103 on the counterbalancing mass 102. Now the door-opening mass 148 is effectively connected to the door 50, as was the counterbalancing mass 102, to substantially increase the counterclockwise turning moment and thereby cause the door 50 automatically to open. The door 50 is held open by reason of the counterclockwise turning moment of the masses 102, 133, and 148 exceeding the clockwise turning moment of the door 50. The door 50 is free to pivot since the disc 91 is not engaged by the latch arm 167, whereby the door 50 may then be manually closed to return the door-operating mechanism 60 to the condition shown in FIG. 10. In addition, as can be seen in FIG. 12, the disc 91 is free to pivot, whereby manual closing of the door 50 pivots the counterbalancing mass 102 and the tongue 103 carried thereby, the tongue 103 engaging the door-opening mass 148. Since the disc 141 is free to pivot within the notch 168, the tongue 103 carries the door-opening mass 148 from the lowered position to the raised position thereof when the door 50 is closed. When the manual door-closing operation is completed, the latch arm 167 is again aligned with the keeper 142 in the disc 141 and the second latch portion 174 slides inwardly within the keeper 142 under the urging of the compression spring 177 to preclude rotation of the door-opening mass 148. The hook 169 is again aligned with the notch 95 in the disc 91, whereby the hook 169 passes through the notch 95 under the urging of the compression spring 177 and against the limiting bracket 97. The adjacent portion of the periphery of the disc 91 is disposed within the notch 168 so that the door 50 remains unlocked to permit a subsequent manual door-opening operation.

In operation, when the user arrives at the garage 40 to take his automobile out, the door-operating mechanism is in the condition illustrated in FIG. and the door 50 is in the closed position illustrated in FIG. 16. The door 50 is free to pivot since the periphery of the disc 91 is disposed withinthe notch 168 and the first latch portion 173 is disengaged from the keeper 93 on the disc 91, whereby the first latch mechanism which is defined by the first latch portion 173 and the keeper 93 is in a door-releasing condition. The door-opening mass 148 is restrained from pivoting since the second latch portion 174 is engaged in the keeper 142 in the disc 141, whereby the second latch mechanism which is defined by the second latch portion 174 and the keeper 142 is in a Weight-holding condition wherein the weight is held in the raised position thereof.

The user effects a manual door-opening operation by grasping the handle 52 on the door 50 and raising it as illustrated in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, FIG. 15 illustrating the door in its locked open position wherein the condition of the door-operating mechanism is illustrated in FIG. 11. As explained previously, the compression spring 177 urges the latch arm 167 through the discs 141 and 91 whereby the first latch mechanism defined by the first latch portion 173 and the keeper 93 is operated to a doorholding condition to hold the door in the open position thereof. The second latch mechanism defined by the second latch portion 174 and the keeper 142 is maintained in the Weight-holding condition thereof. After the door 50 has been locked in the open position thereof, the user enters the automobile and drives it out, whereupon the rear wheels thereof will first strike the automobile-operated control 56 which commences an automatic door-closing operation and subsequently the front wheels will strike the automobile-operated control 56 which completes the automatic door-closing operation and which, as explained previously, causes the latch arm 167 to move outwardly, until the door mechanism 60 returns to the condition illustrated in FIG. 10 and the door returns to the position illustrated in FIG. 16. The first latch mechanism is operated back to the door-releasing condition to effect the automatic door-closing operation, and the second latch mechanism continues to be maintained in the weightholding condition thereof.

When the automobile returns later and strikes the control 56 to commence an automatic door-opening operation, the latch arm 167 is moved outwardly until the door-operating assembly 60 is in the condition illustrated in FIG. 12 and the door 50 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 17. The first latch mechanism is maintained in its door-releasing condition and the second latch mechanism is operated to the weight-relasing condition thereof wherein the door-opening mass 148 is connected to the door 50 for automatic opening thereof. After driving the car into the garage, the user then leaves the automobile and effects a manual door-closing operation by grasping the handle 52 and pulling the door downwardly as shown in FIG. 18. As explained previously, completion of the manual door-closing operation aligns the latch arm 167 with the notch and the keeper 142, whereby the first latch mechanism is maintained in its door-releasing condition and the second latch mechanism is operated to the weight-holding condition thereof.

The abutment surfaces 170 and 171 on the hook 169 and the abutment surface 172 in the notch 168 define a selector for selecting the condition of the first latch mechanism defined by the first latch portion [173 and the keeper 93, and for selecting the condition of the second latch mechanism defined by the second latch portion 174 and the keeper 142. More specifically, when the dooroperating mechanism 60' is in the door-closed condition illustrated in FIG. 10, the abutment surface 170 bears against the limiting bracket 97, so that the first latch mechanism is disposed in the door-releasing condition thereof, and the second latch mechanism is disposed in the weight-holding condition thereof. When the manual door-opening operation is commenced, the abutment surface 170 is freed from the limiting bracket 97 to cause the latch arm 167 to tend to travel inwardly by the action of the spring 177, but this inward motion is retarded by the abutment surface 172 bearing against the adjacent surface of the disc 91 to permit continued rotation of the disc 91. As illustrated in FIG. 11, when the manual door-opening operation is completed, the first latch mechanism is operated into its door-holding condition, and the second latch mechanism is maintained in its weightholding condition. When the automatic door-closing operation is commenced, the abutment surface I171 bears against the disc 91 to limit the outward displacement of the latch arm 167, thereby to return the first latch mechanism into its door-releasing condition and to continue to maintain the second latch mechanism in its weightholding condition. Upon commencement of the automatic door-opening operation, the latch arm 167 is Withdrawn until the abutment surface 171 bears against the disc 141 at which time the first latch mechanism is maintained in its door-releasing condition; and at which time, and not before that time, the second latch mechanism is operated into its weight-releasing condition wherein the dooropening mass 148 is connected to the door 50. When a manual door-closing operation, is then commenced, the door-operating assembly 60 and the first and second latch mechanism will return to their original conditions as shown in FIG. 10.

It can be appreciated that the selector, as defined by the abutment surfaces 170, 171 and |172, serves to permit the motor and the plate 164 to move the latch arm 167 to change the condition of only one of the first and second latch mechanisms at one time. In other words, during the manual door-opening operation (FIG. 10 to FIG. 11), the first latch mechanism is changed from the door-releasing condition to the door-holding condition, while the second latch mechanism is maintained in its weight-holding condition. During the automatic doorclosing operation (FIG. 11 to FIG. 10), the first latch mechanism is changed from its weight-holding condition to the door-releasing condition, while the second latch mechanism is maintained in its weight-holding condition. This aspect is of particular importance as no matter how forcefully the latch arm 167 is operated, the dooropening mass 148 could not be released at the same time that the door 50 is released. During the automatic dooropening operation (FIG. 10 to FIG. 12), the second latch mechanism is changed from its weight-hoding condition to its weight-releasing condition (connecting the dooropening mass 148 to the door 50), and the first latch mechanism is maintained in its door-releasing condition. During the manual door-closing operation (FIG. 12 to FIG. 10) the second latch mechanism is changed from its weight-releasing condition to its weight-holding condition, and the first latch mechanism is maintained in its door-releasing condition.

The door-opening mass 148 is not connected to the door 50 until the automatic door-closing operation has been completed. Only after that time is the latch arm 167 in position such as to be withdrawn from the discs 91 and 141 to the condition shown in FIG. 12. This characteristic provides applicants invention with an important advantage, in that when the door 50' is closed after an automatic door-closing operation (FIG. 11 to FIG. 10) an additional latch mechanism, such as the standard lock which may be provided in the door handle 52, is not necessary for the proper operation of the door-operating mechanism 60. (Such a door lock, of course, is desirable for other reasons, such as to prevent unauthorized access into the garage.) Because the door-opening mass 148- is not connected to the door 50 before the automatic door- 1 1 closing operation is completed, there is no force tending to open the door prior to the actual commencement of an automatic door-opening operation, whereby merely the weight of the door 50 would be sufficient to maintain it closed whether or not a door lock is provided.

It should be understood that the first latch portion 173 and the keeper 93 which defines the first latch mechanism, and the second latch portion 174 and the second keeper 142 which define the second latch mechanism instead of being of the sliding engagement type illustrated, may conveniently be formed for rolling contact between the parts when greater pressures are to be applied between the parts.

Although the invention has been described as comprising a door-operating mechanism associated with each side of the door 50, with each of the mechanisms including the balancing counterweight assembly, it may be appreciated that the counterbalancing weight assemblies are not absolutely essential for the proper operation of the invention. If the counterbalancing weight assemblies are eliminated, it would, of course, be necessary to still provide some pivot means on each side of the door 50', and, in addition, a door-opening member would have to replace the tongue 103 on the countenbalancing mass 90, the dooropening member being on the door 50 and engageable by the door-opening mass 148 to permit automatic opening of the door 50 as previously described. Further, the dooroperating mechanism 60, although shown and described as being disposed adjacent to the right side of the door 50, would work equally as well disposed on the left side of the door 50.

What has been described, therefore, is an improved door-operating mechanism for effecting a manual dooropening operation followed by an automatic door-closing operation and then by an automatic door-opening operation and then by a manual door-closing operation, there being a latch mechanism provided for locking the door in the open position thereof following a manual dooropening operation.

While there has been described What is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A door operating mechanism for use with a door mounted in a building having a door-receiving opening therein to control movement of the door between a first position and a second position with respect to the opening, means biasing the door to the first position thereof, a door-driving device mounted adjacent to the door and pivotal about a fixed pivot axis and operative when connected thereto automatically to move the door from the first position to the second position thereof, latch mechanism having a device-connecting condition for connecting said door-driving device to the door to effect automatic movement of the door from the first position to the second position thereof and having a device-holding condition for maintaining said door-driving device out of operative connection with the door, and an actuator for operating said latch mechanism between the device-holding condition and the device-connecting condition thereof.

2. The door mechanism set forth in claim 1, wherein the first position is a closed position of the door with respect to the door-receiving opening and the second position is an open position of the door with respect to the door-receiving opening.

3. Door operating mechanism for use with a door mounted in an associated building door-receiving opening to control movement of the door between a first position with respect to the opening and a second position with respect to the opening and to accommodate a manual door-opening operation followed by an automatic doorclosing operation and then by an automatic door-opening operation and then by a manual door-closing operation,

said door-operating mechanism comprising means biasing the associated door to the first position thereof, first latch mechanism having a door-holding condition for holding the associated door in the second position thereof against said biasing means subsequent to a manual movement of the door to said second position and having a door-releasing condition, a door-driving device for the associated door and operative when connected thereto automatically to move the door from the first position thereof to the second position thereof, second latch mechanism having a device-connecting condition for connecting said doordriving device to the associated door to effect automatic operation thereof from the first to the second positions thereof and having a device-holding condition for maintaining said door-driving device out of operative connection with the door, an actuator selectively operable on said first latch mechanism for selectively operating said first latch mechanism between the door-holding condition and the door-releasing condition thereof and selectively operable on said second latch mechanism for selectively operating said second latch mechanism between the deviceholding condition and the device-connecting condition thereof, and a selector for selectively rendering said actuator operable to change the condition of only one of said first and second latch mechanism at one time to cause positive operation of the selected one of said latch mechanisms by said actuator, whereby after a manual movement of the door to said second position said first latch mechanism is in the door-holding condition thereof and said second latch mechanism is in the device-holding condition thereof and said selector renders said actuator operable to operate said first latch mechanism to the doorreleasing condition to effect automatic movement of the door to the first position thereof, and thereafter said second latch mechanism is in the device-holding condition and said selector renders said actuator operative to operate said second latch mechanism from the device-holding condition to the device-connecting condition thereof to effect an automatic movement of the door to the second position thereof, and thereafter a manual movement of the door to the first position thereof causes said selector to render said second latch mechanism from the deviceconnecting condition to the device-holding condition thereof.

4. A door operating mechanism for use with a door mounted in an associated building door-receiving opening to accommodate a manual door-opening operation followed by an automatic doorclosing operation and then by an automatic door-opening operation and then by a manual door-closing operation, said door operating mechanism comprising first latch mechanism having a door-holding condition for holding the associated door in the open position thereof against the urging of gravity subsequent to a manual door-opening operation and hava door-releasing condition, a door-opening device for the associated door and operative when connected thereto automatically to move the door from the closed position to the open position thereof to accomplish an automatic door-opening operation, second latch mechanism having a device-connecting condition for connecting said door opening device to the associated door to effect an automatic door-opening operation and having a device-holding condition for maintaining said door-opening device out of operative connection with said door, an actuator selectively operable on said first latch mechanism for selectively operating said first latch mechanism between the door-holding condition and the door-releasing cond tion thereof and selectively operable on said second latch mechanism for selectively operating said second latch mechanism between the device-holding condition and the device-connecting condition thereof, and a selector for selectively rendering said actuator operable to change the condition of only one of said first and second latch mechanisms at one time to cause positive operation of the selected one of said latch mechanism by said actuator,

whereby after a manual door-opening operation said first latch mechanism is in the door-holding condition thereof and said second latch mechanism is in the device-holding condition thereof and said selector renders said actuator operable to operate said first latch mechanism to the door-releasing condition to effect an automatic doorclosing operation, and thereafter said second latch mechanism is the device-holding condition and said selector renders said actuator operable to operate said second latch mechanism from the device-holding condition to the device-connecting condition thereof to effect an automatic door-opening operation, and thereafter a manual doorclosing operation causes said selector to render said second latch mechanism from the device-connecting condition to the device-holding condition thereof.

5. A door operating mechanism for use with a door mounted in an associated building door-receiving opening to accommodate a manual door-opening operation followed by an automatic door-closing operation and then by an automatic door-opening operation and then by a manual door-closing operation, said door operating mechanism comprising first latch mechanism having a doorholding condition for holding the associated door in the open position thereof against the urging of gravity subsequent to a manual door-opening operation and having a door-releasing condition, a door-opening device for the associated door and operative when connected thereto automatically to move the door from the closed position to the open position thereof to accomplish an automobile door-opening operation, second latch mechanism having a device-connecting condition for connecting said dooropening device to the associated door to effect an automobile door-opening operation and having a device-holding condition for maintaining said door-opening device out of operative connection with said door, an actuator selectively operable on said first latch mechanism for selectively operating said first latch mechanism between the doorholding condition and the door-releasing condition thereof and selectively operable on said latch mechanism for selectively operating said second latch mechanism between the device-holding condition and the device-connecting condition thereof, and a selector for selectively connecting said actuator to said first and second latch mechanisms when said first and second latch mechanisms are in selected conditions thereof, said selector being operable after a manual door-opening operation with said first latch mechanism in the door-holding condition thereof to connect said actuator to said first latch mechanism, whereby upon a subsequent actuation of said actuator said first latch mechanism is operated from the door-holding condition to the door-releasing condition thereof to effect an automatic door-closing operation, said selector being operable after an automatic door-closing operation with said second latch mechanism in the device-holding condition thereof to connect said actuator to said second latch mechanism, whereby upon a subsequent actuation of said actuator said second latch mechanism is operated from the deviceholding condition to the device-connecting condition thereof to effect an automatic door-opening operation, said selector being operable after an automatic door-opening operation to maintain said second latch mechanism in the device-connecting condition thereof during a subsequent manual door-closing operation and thereafter to operate said second latch mechanism to the device-holding condition thereof.

6. A door operating mechanism for use with a door mounted in a building having a door-receiving opening therein to control movement of the door between a first position and a second position with respect to the opening, the door being biased toward the first position thereof, a door control mechanism for mounting on the associated building and including a door-driving device for the door and operative when connected thereto automatically to move the door from the first position thereof to the second position thereof, said door control mechanism including a control element therefor disposed in front of the doorreceiving opening, said door control mechanism in the first position of the door accommodating both manual movement of the door from the first position to the second position thereof and automatic movement of the door from the first position to the second position thereof by actuation of said control element, said door control mechanism in the second position of the door accommodating both manual movement of the door from the second position to the first position thereof and automatic movement of the door from the second position to the first position thereof by actuation of said control element after a manual movement of the door from the first position to the second position thereof.

7. A door operating mechanism for use with a door pivotally mounted in an associated building door-receiving opening to accommodate a manual door-opening operation followed by an automatic door-closing operation and then by an automatic door-opening operation and then by a manual door-closing operattion, said door operating mechanism comprising first latch mechanism having a door-holding condition for holding the associated door in the open position thereof against the urging of gravity subsequent to a manual door-opening operation and having a door-releasing condition, a door-opening weight for the associated door and operative when connected thereto automatically to move the door from the closed position to the open position thereof to accomplish an automatic door-opening operation, second latch mechanism having a Weight-connecting condition for connecting said door-opening weight to the associated door to effect an automatic door-opening operation and having a weight-holding condition, an actuator selectively operable on said first latch mechanism for selectively operating said first latch mechanism between the door-holding condition and the door-releasing condition thereof and selectively operable on said second latch mechanism for selectively operating said second latch mechanism between the weight-holding condition and the weight-connecting condition thereof, and a selector for selectively rendering said actuator operable to change the condition of only one of said first and second latch mechanisms at one time to cause positive operation of the selected one of said latch mechanism by said actuator, whereby after a manual door-opening operation said first latch mechanism is in the door-holding condition thereof and said second latch mechanism is in the weight-holding condition thereof and said selector renders said actuator operable to operate said first latch mechanism to the door-releasing condition to efiect an automatic door-closing operation, and thereafter said second latch mechanism is in the weightholding condition and said selector renders said actuator operable to operate said second latch mechanism from the weight-holding condition to the weight-connecting condition thereof to eifect an automatic door-opening operation, and thereafter a manual door-closing operation causes said selector to render said second latch mechanism from the weight-connecting condition to the weight-holding condition thereof.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7, wherein each of said latch mechanisms includes a single integral latch having a first latch portion forming a part of said first latch mechanism and having a second latch portion forming a part of said second latch mechanism, and said selector includes a hook on said latch and integral therewith.

9. A door operating mechanism for use with a door pivotally mounted in an associated building door-receiving opening to accommodate a manual door-opening operation followed by an automatic door-closing operation and then by an automatic door-opening operation and then by a manual door-closing operation, said door operating mechanism comprising first latch mechanism having a door-holding condition for holding the associated door in the open position thereof against the urging of gravity subsequent to a manual door-opening operation and having a door-releasing condition, a door-opening weight for the associated door and operative when connected thereto automatically to move the door from the closed position to the open position thereof to accomplish an automobile door-opening operation, second latch mechanism having a weight-connecting condition for connecting said door-opening weight to the associated door to effect an automobile door-opening operation and having a weight-holding condition, an actuator selectively operable on said first latch mechanism for selectively operating said first latch mechanism between the door-hold ing condition and the door-releasing condition thereof and selectively operable on said latch mechanism for selectively operating said second latch mechanism between the weight-holding condition and the weight-connecting condition thereof, and a selector for selectively connecting said actuator to said first and second latch mechanism when said first and second latch mechanisms are in selected conditions thereof, said selector being operable after a manual door-opening operation with said first latch mechanism in the door-holding condition thereof to connect said actuator to said first latch mechanism, whereby upon a subsequent actuation of said actuator said first latch mechanism is operated from the door-holding condition to the door-releasing condition thereof to effect an automatic door-closing operation, said selector being operable after an automatic door closing operation with said second latch mechanism in the weight-holding condltion thereof to connect said actuator to said second latch mechanism, whereby upon a subsequent actuation of said actuator said second latch mechanism is operated from the weight-holding condition to the weight-connecting condition thereof to effect an automatic door-opening operation, said selector being operable after an automatic door-opening operation to maintain said second latch mechanism in the weight-connecting condition thereof during a subsequent manual door-closing operation and thereafter to operate said second latch mechanism to the weight-holding condition thereof.

10. A door operating mechanism for use with a door pivotally mounted in an associated building door-receiving opening to accommodate a manual door-opening operation followed by an automatic door-closing operation and then by an automatic door-opening operation and then by a manual door-closing operation, said door operating mechanism comprising a door-opening weight for pivotal mounting adjacent to one side of the associated doorreceiving opening and pivotal between a raised position and a lowered position, said door-opening weight being constructed and arranged so as to be biased toward the lowered position thereof under the urging of gravity, a door-opening member on the associated door adjacent to said door-opening weight and engageable therewith to move the door from the closed position to the opened position thereof as said weight moves from the raised position to the lowered position thereof, first and second keepers and a latch including a first latch portion for co-operating with said first keeper and including a second latch portion for co-operation with said second keeper, said first keeper and said first latch portion being operatively associated with the associated door and having a door-holding condition wherein said first latch portion engages said first keeper to hold the door in the opened position thereof against the urging of gravity and having a door-releasing condition wherein said first latch portion is disengaged from said first keeper to permit closing of the door under the urging of gravity, said second keeper and said second latch portion being operatively associated with said dooropening weight and having a weight-holding condition wherein said second latch portion engages said second keeper to hold said door-opening weights in the raised position thereof against the urging of gravity and having a weight-releasing condition wherein said second latch portion is disengaged from said second keeper to release said door-opening weight into engagement with said dooropening member toautomatically open said door under the urging of gravity, an actuator selectively operable at one time on said latch for selectively operating said first latch portion between the door-open condition and the door-release condition thereof and selectively operable at another time on said latch for selectively operating said second latch portion between the Weight-holding condition and the weight-releasing condition thereof, and a selector for selectively rendering said actuator operable to change the condition of only one of said first and second latch portions at one time to cause positive operation of the selected one of said latch portions by said actuator, whereby after a manual door-opening operation said first latch portion is in the door-holding condition thereof and said second latch portion is in the weight-holding condition thereof and said selector renders said actuator operable to operate said first latch portion to the door-releasing condition to effect an automatic door-closing operation, and thereafter said second latch portion is in the weight-holding condition and said selector renders said actuator operable to operate said second latch portion from the weight-holding condition to the weight-connecting condition thereof to effect an automatic door-opening operation, and thereafter a manual door-closing operation causes said selector to render said second latch portion from the weight-connecting condition to the weight-holding condition thereof.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10, wherein said selector includes a hook integral with said latch and disposed adjacent to said first latch portion, and said second latch portion is integral with said first latch portion.

12. A door assembly for use with an associated building having a door-receiving opening therein and accommodating a manual door-opening operation followed by an automatic door-closing operation and then by an auto matic door-opening operation and then by a manual doorclosing operation, said door assembly comprising a door shiftably mounted in said door-receiving opening and movable between a closed position and an open position with respect to said opening, said door being constructed and arranged so as to be biased toward the closed position thereof under the urging of gravity, a door-opening evice mounted adjacent to said door and pivotal about a fixed pivot axis and operative when connected thereto automatically to move said door from the closed position to the open position thereof, latch mechanism having a device-connecting condition for connecting said dooropening device to said door to effect automatic opening thereof and having a device-holding condition for maintaining said door-opening device out of operative connection with said door, and an actuator for operating said latch mechanism between the device-holding condition and the device-connecting condition thereof.

13. A door assembly for use with an associated building having an opening for receiving a door therein and accommodating a manual door-opening operation followed by an automatic door-closing operation and then by an automatic door-opening operation and then by a manual door-closing operation, said door assembly comprising a door mounting in the door-receiving opening and movable between a closed position and an open position with respect to the opening, said door being constructed and arranged so as to be biased toward the closed position thereof under the urging of gravity, first latch mechanism having a door-holding condition for holding said door in the open position thereof against the urging of gavity and having a door-releasing condition, a door-opening device for said door and operative when connected thereto automatically to move said door from the closed position to the open position thereof, second latch mechanism having a device-connecting condition for connecting said door-opening device to said door to effect automatic opening thereof and having a device-holding condition for maintaining said door-opening device out of operative connection with said door, an actuator selectively operable on said first latch mechanism for operating said first latch mechanism between the doonholding condition and the doorreleasing condition thereof and selectively operable on said second latch mechanism for operating said second latch mechanism between the device-holding condition and the device-connecting condition thereof, and a selector for selectively rendering said actuator operable to change the condition of only one of said first and second latch mechanisms at one time to cause positive operation of the selected one of said latch mechanisms by said actuator, whereby after a manual door-opening operation said first latch mechanism is in the door holding condition thereof and said second latch mechanism is in the deviceholding condition thereof and said selector renders said actuator operable to operate said first latch mechanism to the door-releasing condition to effect an automatic door-closing operation, and thereafter said second latch mechanism is in the device-holding condition and said selector renders said actuator operable to operate said second latch mechanism from the device-holding condition, to the device-connecting condition thereof to effect an automatic door-opening operation, and thereafter a manual door-closing operation causes said selector to render said second latch mechanism from the deviceconnecting condition to the device-holding condition thereof.

14. A door assembly for use with an associated building having an opening for receiving a door therein and accommodating a manual door-opening operation followed by an automatic door-closing operation and then by an automatic door-opening operation and then by a manual door-closing operation, said door assembly comprising a door for mounting in the door-receiving opening and movable between a closed position and an open position with respect to the opening, said door being constructed and arranged so as to be biased toward the closed position thereof under the urging of gravity, first latch mechanism having a door-holding condition for holding said door in the open position thereof against the urging of gravity and having a door-releasing condition, a door-opening device for said door and operative when connected thereto automatically to move said door from the closed position to the open position thereof, second latch mechanism having a device-connecting condition for connecting said door-opening device to said door to effect automatic opening thereof and having a device-holding condition for maintaining said dooropening device out of operative connection with said door, an actuator selectively operable on said first latch mechanism for operating said first latch mechanism between the door-holding condition and the door-releasing condition thereof, and selectively operable on said second latch mechanism for operating said second latch mechanism between the device-holding condition and the device-connecting condition thereof, and a selector for selectively connecting said actuator to said first and second latch mechanism when said first and second latch mechanisms are in selected conditions thereof, said selector being operable after a manual door-opening operation with said first latch mechanism in the door-holding condition thereof to connect said actuator to said first latch mechanism, whereby upon a subsequent actuation of said actuator said first latch mechanism is operated from the door-holding condition to the door-releasing condition thereof to effect an automatic door-closing operation, said selector being operable after an automatic door-closing operation with said second latch mechanism in the device-holding condition thereof to connect said actuator to said second latch mechanism, whereby upon a subsequent actuation of said actuator said second latch mechanism is operated from the device-holding condition to the device-connecting condition thereof to effect an automatic door-opening operation, said selector being operable after an automatic door-opening operation to maintain said second latch mechanism in the deviceconnecting condition thereof during a subsequent manual door-closing operation and thereafter to operate said second latch mechanism to the device-holding condition thereof.

15. A door assembly for use with an associated building having a door-receiving opening therein and accommodating a manual door-opening operation followed by an automatic door-closing operation and then by an automatic door-opening operation and then by a manual door-closing operation, said door assembly comprising a door shiftably mounted in the door-receiving opening and movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the opening, said door being constructed and arranged to be biased toward the first position thereof, a door control mechanism for mounting on the associated building and including a door-driving device for said door and operative when connected thereto automatically to move said door from the first position thereof to the second position thereof, said door control mechanism in the first position of said door accommodating both manual movement of said door from the first position to the second position thereof and automatic movement of said door from the first position to the second position thereof by actuation of said control element, said door control mechanism in the second position of said door accommodating both manual movement of said door from the seocnd position to the first position thereof and automatic movement of said door from the second position to the first position thereof by actuation of said control element after a manual movement of said door from the first position to the second position thereof.

16. A door assembly for use with an associated building having an opening for receiving a door therein and accommodating a manual door-opening operation followed by an automatic door-closing operation and then by an automatic door-opening operation and then by a manual door-closing operation, said door assembly comprising a door for pivotal mounting in the door-receiving opening and pivotal between a closed position and an open position with respect to the opening, said door being constructed and arranged so as to be biased toward the closed position thereof under the urging of gravity, first latch mechanism having a door-holding condition for holding said door in the open position thereof against the urging of gravity and having a door-releasing condition, a dooropening weight for said door and operative when connected thereto automatically to move said door from the closed position to the open position thereof, second latch mechanism having a weight-connecting condition for connecting said door-opening weight to said door to effect automatic opening thereof and having a weight-holding condition, an actuator selectively operable on said first latch mechanism for operating said first latch mechanism between the door-holding condition and the door-releasing condition thereof and selectively operable on said second latch mechanism for operating said second latch mechanism between the weight-holding condition and the weight-connecting condition thereof, and a selector for selectively rendering said actuator operable to change the condition of only one of said first and second latch mechanisms at one time to cause positive operation of the selected one of said latch mechanisms by said actuator, whereby after a manual door-opening operation said first latch mechanism is in the door-holding condition thereof and said second latch mechanism is in the weight-holding condition thereof and said selector renders said actuator operable to operate said first latch mechanism to the doorreleasing condition to effect an automatic door-closing operation, and thereafter said second latch mechanism is in the weight-holding condition and said selector renders said actuator operable to operate said second latch mechanism from the weight-holding condition, to the weightconnecting condition thereof to effect an automatic dooropening operation, and thereafter a manual door-closing operation causes said selector to render said second latch mechanism from the weight-connecting condition to the weight-holding condition thereof.

17. The combination set forth in claim 16, wherein said latch mechanisms include a single integral common latch having a first latch portion forming a part of said first latch mechanism and having a second latch portion forming a part of said second latch mechanism, and said selector includes a hook on said latch and integral therewith.

18. The combination set forth in claim 16, and further comprising a vehicle-operated control positioned in use in front of the associated door-receiving opening and coupled to said actuator and operable when struck by a vehicle to operate said actuator and thus to change the conditions of said latch mechanisms.

19. The combination set forth in claim 16, and further comprising a door-opening member on said door and disposed adjacent to said door-opening weight and engageable therewith upon operation of said second latch mechanism to the weight-connecting condition thereof for connecting said door-opening weight to said door to effect automatic opening thereof.

20. The combination set forth in claim 16, and further comprising a counter-balancing weight on said door and movable therewith between a raised station when said door is in the closed position thereof and a lowered station when said door is in the open position thereof, said door and said counterbalancing weight being arranged and constructed to bias said door toward the closed position thereof under the urging of gravity.

21. A door assembly for use with an associated building having an opening for receiving a door therein and accommodating a manual door-opening operation followed by an automatic door-closing operation and then by an automatic door-opening operation and then by a manual door-closing operation, said door assembly comprising a door for pivotal mounting in the door-receiving opening and pivotal between a closed position and an open position with respect to the opening, said door being constructed and arranged so as to be biased toward the closed position thereof under the urging of gravity, first latch mechanism having a door-holding condition for holding said door in the open position thereof against the urging of gravity and having a door-releasing condition, a door-opening weight for said door and operative when connected thereto automatically to move said door from the closed position to the open position thereof, second latch mechanism having a weight-connecting condition for connecting said door-opening weight to said door to effect automatic opening thereof and having a Weightholding condition, an actuator selectively operable on said first latch mechanism for operating said first latch mechanism between the door-holding condition and the door-releasing condition thereof and selectively operable on said second latch mechanism for operating said second latch mechanism between the weight-holding condition and the weight-connecting condition thereof, and a selector for selectively connecting said actuator to said first and second latch mechanisms when said first and second latch mechanisms are in selected conditions thereof, said selector being operable after a manual door-opening operation with said first latch mechanism in the doorholding condition thereof to connect said actuator to said first latch mechanism, whereby upon a subsequent actuation of said actuator said first latch mechanism is operated from the door-holding condition to the door releasing condition thereof to effect an automatic doorclosing operation, said selector being operable after an automatic door-closing operation with said second latch mechanism in the weight-holding condition thereof to connect said actuator to said second latch mechanism, whereby upon a subsequent actuation of said actuator said second latch mechanism is operated from the weightholding condition to the weight-connecting condition thereof to effect an automatic door-opening operation, said selector being operable after an automatic dooropening operation to maintain said second latch mechanism in the weight-connecting condition thereof during a subsequent manual door-closing operation and thereafter to operate said second latch mechanism to the Weightholding condition thereof.

22. A door assembly for use with an associated building having an opening for receiving a door therein and accommodating a manual door-opening operation followed by an automatic door-closing operation and then by an automatic door-opening operation and then by a manual door-closing operation, said door assembly comprising a door for pivotal mounting in the door-receiving opening and pivotal between a closed position and an open position with respect to the opening, said door being constructed and arranged so as to be biased toward the closed position thereof under the urging of gravity, first latch mechanism having a door-holding condition for holding said door in the open position thereof against the urging of gravity and having a door-releasing condition, a door-opening weight for said door and operative when connected thereto automatically to move said door from the closed position to the open position thereof, second latch mechanism having a weight-connecting condition for connecting said door-opening weight to said door to effect automatic opening thereof and having a weight-holding condition, an actuator including a hydraulically-operated motor having a cylinder and a piston operatively mounted therein and coupled to said first and second latch mechanisms, 21 vehicle-operated control positioned in use in front of the associated door-receiving opening and coupled to said motor and operable when struck by a vehicle to operate said motor and thus change the conditions of said latch mechanisms, said actuator being selectively operable on said first latch mechanism for operating said first latch mechanism between the door-holding condition and the door-releasing condition thereof and being selectively operable on said second latch mechanism for operating said second latch mechanism between the weight-holding condition and the weight-connecting condition thereof, and a selector for selectively rendering said actuator operable to change the conditions of only one of said first and second latch mechanisms at one time to cause positive operation of the selected one of said latch mechanisms by said actuator, whereby after a manual door-opening operation said first latch mechanism is in the door-holding condition thereof and said second latch mechanism is in the weight-holding condition thereof and said selector renders said actuator operable to operate said first latch mechanism to the door-releasing condition to effect an automatic door-closing operation, and thereafter said second latch mechanism is in the weight-holding condition and said selector renders said actuator operable to operate said second latch mechanism from the weight-holding condition, to the weight-connecting condition thereof to effect an automatic door-opening operation, and thereafter a manual door-closing operation causes said selector to render said second latch mechanism from the weight connecting condition to the weight-holding condition thereof.

23. A door assembly for use with an associated building having an opening for receiving a door therein and accommodating a manual door-opening operation followed by an automatic door-closing operation and then by an automatic door-opening operation and then by a manual door-closing operation, said door assembly comprising a door for pivotal mounting in the doorreceiving opening and pivotal between a closed position and an open position with respect to the opening, said door being constructed and arranged so as to be biased toward the closed position thereof under the urging of gravity, a door-opening weight for pivotal mounting adjacent to one side of the associated door-receiving opening and pivotal between a raised position and a lowered position, said dooropening weight being constructed and arranged so as to be biased toward the lowered position thereof under the urging of gravity, a door-opening member on said door adjacent to said door-opening weight and engageable therewith to move said door from the closed position to the opened position thereof as said weight moves from the raised position to a lowered position thereof, first and second keepers and a latch including a first latch portion for co-operation with said first keeper and including a second latch portion for co-operation with said second keeper, said first keeper and said first latch portion being operatively associated with said door and having a door-holding condition wherein said first latch portion engages said first keeper to hold said door in the open position thereof against the urging of gravity and having a door-releasing condition wherein said first latch portion is disengaged from said first keeper to permit closing of said door under the urging of gravity, said second keeper and said second latch portion being operatively associated with said door-opening weight and having a weight-holding condition wherein said second latch portion engages said second keeper to hold said dooropening weight in the raised position thereof against the urging of gravity and having a weight-releasing condition wherein said second latch portion is disengaged from said second keeper to release said door-opening weight into engagement with said door-opening member automatically to open said door under the urging of gravity, an actuator selectively operable at one time on said latch for selectively operating said first latch portion between the door-holding condition and the door-releasing condition thereof and selectively operable at another time on said latch for selectively operating said second latch portion between the weight-holding condition and the weight-releasing condition thereof, and a selector for selectively rendering said actuator operable to change the condition of only one of said first and second latch portions at one time to cause positive operation of the selected one of said latch portions by said actuator, whereby after a manual door-opening operation said first latch portion is in the door-holding condition thereof and said second latch portion is in the weight-holding condition thereof and said selector renders said actuator operable to operate said first latch portion to the door-releasing condition to effect an automatic doorclosing operation, and thereafter said second latch portion is in the weight-holding condition and said selector renders said actuator operable to operate said second latch portion from the Weight-holding condition, to the weight-connecting condition thereof to effect an automatic dooropening operation, and thereafter a manual door-closing operation causes said selector to render said second latch portion from the weight-connecting condition to the weight-holding condition thereof.

24. The combination as set forth in claim 23, wherein said first keeper is fixedly attached to said door, said second keeper is fixedly attached to said door-opening weight, and said latch is slidably supported adjacent to said keeper for slidable movement with respect thereto.

25. The combination set forth in claim 23, wherein said door-opening weight comprises a substantially rigid arm for pivotal mounting adjacent to the one side of the associated door-receiving opening, and a door-opening mass on said arm and disposed outwardly of the pivotal mounting thereof.

26. The combination set forth in claim 23, wherein said selector includes a hook integral with said latch and disposed adjacent to said first latch portion, and said second latch portion is integral with said first latch portion.

27. The combination set forth in claim 23, wherein said door and said door-opening weight are pivotal about a common pivot axis that is fixed with respect to the associated building.

28. The combination set forth in claim 23, and further comprising a vehicle-operated control positioned in use in front of the associated door-receiving opening and coupled to said actuator and operable when struck by a vehicle to operate said actuator and thus change the conditions of one of said latch mechanisms.

29. The combination in a building having a door receiving opening therein, comprising a door shiftably mounted in said door-receiving opening and movable between a closed position and an open position with respect to said opening, said door being constructed and arranged so as to be biased toward the closed position thereof under the urging of gravity, a door-opening device mounted adjacent to said door and pivotal about a fixed pivot axis and operative when connected thereto automatically to move said door from the closed position to the open position thereof, latch mechanism having a device-connecting condition for connecting said door-opening device to said door to effect automatic opening thereof and having a device-holding condition for maintaining said door-opening device out of operative connection with said door, and an actuator for operating said latch mechanism between the device-holding condition and the device-connecting condition thereof.

30. The combination for use with an associated building having a door-receiving opening therein, said combination comprising first and second support brackets for attachment to the associated building respectively adjacent to the sides of the door-receiving opening, a door mounted to said support brackets and movable between a closed position and an open position with respect to the opening, first and second counterbalancing devices on said door respectively adjacent to said first and second support brackets and movable with said door between a raised station above the center of gravity of said door and a lowered station, said counterbalancing devices being constructed and arranged with respect to said door to cause said door to be biased toward the closed position thereof under the urging of gravity, a first keeper on said first counterbalancing device and movable between a doorholding condition and a door-releasing condition, a dooropening device mounted on said first support bracket and movable between a raised position and a lowered position, said door-opening device being constructed and arranged so as to be urged toward the lowered position thereof under the urging of gravity, a second keeper on said door-opening device and movable therewith between a device-holding condition and a device-releasing condition, a door-opening member on said first counterbalancing device and disposed adjacent to said door-opening device and engageable therewith to move said door from the closed position to the open position thereof as said dooropening device moves from the raised position to the lowered position thereof, a latch including a first latch portion for co-operation with said first keeper and a second latch portion for co-operation with said second keeper, said first latch portion having a door-holding condition wherein it engages said first keeper to hold said door in the open position thereof against the urging of gravity and having a door-releasing condition wherein it is disengaged from said first keeper to permit closing of said door under the urging of gravity, said second latch portion having a device-holding condition wherein it engages said second keeper to hold said door-opening device in the raised position thereof against the urging of gravity and having a device-releasing condition wherein it is disengaged from said second keeper to release said door-opening device into engagement with said dooropening member automatically to open said door under the urging of gravity, an actuator selectively operable at one time on said latch for selectively operating said first latch portion between the door-holding condition and the door-releasing condition thereof and selectively operable at another time on said latch for selectively operat ing said second latch portion between the device-holding 23 condition and the device-releasing condition thereof, and a selector for selectively rendering said actuator operable to change the condition of only one of said first and second latch portions at one time to cause positive operation of the selected one of said latch portions by said actuator.

31. The combination for use with an associated building having a door-receiving opening therein, said combination comprising a door for mounting in the doorreceiving opening and movable between a closed position and an open position with respect to the opening, a first base on said door adjacent to one side thereof and disposed above the center of gravity thereof when said door is in the closed position thereof, a counterbalancing device on said first base and movable with said door between a raised station when said door is in the closed position thereof and a lowered station when said door is in the open position thereof, said door and said counterbalancing device being constructed and arranged to bias said door toward the closed position thereof under the urging of gravity, a first keeper on said first base and movable therewith between a door-holding condition and a door-releasing condition, a second base for mounting adjacent to said first base, a door-opening device on said second base and movable therewith between a raised position when said door is in the closed position thereof and a lowered position when said door is in the open position thereof, said door-opening device being constructed and arranged so as to be biased toward the lowered position thereof under the urging of gravity, a second keeper on said second base and movable therewith between a device-holding condition and a devicereleasing condition, a door-opening member on said counterbalancing device and disposed adjacent to said dooropening device and engageable therewith to move said door from the closed position to the open position thereof as said door-opening device moves from the raised position to the lowered position thereof, a latch including a first latch portion for co-operation with said first keeper and a second latch portion for co-operation with said second keeper, said first latch portion having a door-holding condition wherein it engages said first keeper to hold said door in the open position thereof against the urging of gravity and having a door-releasing condition wherein it is disengaged from said first keeper to permit closing of said door under the urging of gravity, said second latch portion having a device-holding condition wherein it engages said second keeper to hold said door-opening device in the raised position thereof against the urging of gravity and having a device-releasing condition wherein it is disengaged from said second keeper to release said dooropening device into engagement with said door-opening member automatically to open said door under the urging of gravity, an actuator selectively operable at one time on said latch for selectively operating said first latch portion between the door-holding condition and the doorreleasing condition thereof and selectively operable at another time on said latch for selectively operating said second latch portion between the device-holding condition and the device-releasing condition thereof, and a selector for selectively rendering said actuator operable to change the condition of only one of said first and second latch portion at one time to cause positive operation of the selected one of said latch portions by said actuator.

32. The combination in a building having a door-receiving opening therein comprising a door pivotally mounted in said door-receiving opening and pivotal about a fixed pivot axis between a closed position and an open position with respect to said opening, said door being constructed and arranged so as to be biased toward the closed position thereof under the urging of gravity, a door-opening weight pivotally mounted adjacent to said door and pivotal about said fixed pivot axis and operative when connected thereto automatically to move said door about said fixed pivot axis from the closed position to the open position thereof, latch mechanism having a weightconnecting condition for connecting said door-opening weight to said door to effect automatic opening thereof and having a weight-holding condition for maintaining said door-opening weight out of operative connection with said door, and an actuator for operating said latch mechanism between the weight-holding condition and the weightconnecting condition thereof.

33. The combination set forth in claim 32, wherein said door is essentially a one-piece construction.

34. The combination for use with an associated building having a door-receiving opening therein, said combination comprising first and second support brackets for attachment to the associated building respectively adjacent to the sides of the door-receiving opening, a door pivotally mounted to said support brackets and pivotal between a closed position and an open position with respect to the opening, first and second counterbalancing Weights on said door respectively adjacent to said first and second support brackets and movable with said door between a raised station above the center of gravity of said door and a lowered station, said counterbalancing weights being constructed and arranged with respect to said door to cause said door to be biased toward the closed position thereof under the urging of gravity, a first keeper on said first counterbalancing weight and movable between a door-holding condition and a door-releasing condition, a door-opening weight pivotally mounted on said first support bracket and pivotal between a raised position and a lowered position, said door-opening weight being constructed and arranged so as to be urged toward the lowered position thereof under the urging of gravity, a second keeper on said door-opening weight and movable therewith between a weight-holding condition and a weight-releasing condition, a door-opening member on said first counterbalancing weight and disposed adjacent to said door-opening weight and engageable therewith to move said door from the closed position to the open position thereof as said door-opening weight moves from the raised position to the lowered position thereof, a latch including a first latch portion for co-operation with said first keeper and a second latch portion for co-operation with said second keeper, said first latch portion having a door-holding condition wherein it engages said first keeper to hold said door in the open position thereof against the urging of gravity and having a door-releasing condition wherein it is disengaged from said first keeper to permit closing of said door under the urging of gravity, said second latch portion having a weight-holding condition wherein it engages said second keeper to hold said dooropening weight in the raised position thereof against the urging of gravity and having a weight-releasing condition wherein it is disengaged from said second keeper to release said door-opening Weight into engagement with said door-opening member automatically to open said door under the urging of gravity, an actuator selectively operable at one time on said latch for selectively operating said first latch portion between the door-holding condition and the door-releasing condition thereof and selectively operable at another time on said latch for selectively operating said second latch portion between the weight-holding condition and the weight-releasing condition thereof, and a selector for selectively rendering said actuator operable to change the condition of only one of said first and second latch portions at one time to cause positive operation of the selected one of said latch portions by said actuator.

35. The combination set forth in claim 34, wherein said first counterbalancing weight is disposed adjacent to one side of said first supportbracket, and said door-opening weight is disposed adjacent to the other side of said first support bracket.

36. The combination set forth in claim 34, wherein said door-opening weight comprises a base pivotally mounted on said first support bracket, a substantially rigid arm on said base, and a door-opening mass on said arm and disposed outwardly of said base.

37. The combination set forth in claim 34, wherein each of said counterbalancing weights includes a base on said door adjacent to the associated support bracket, a substantially rigid arm on said base, and a counterbalancing mass on said arm and disposed outwardly of said base.

38. The combination set forth in claim 34, wherein said selector includes a hook integral with said latch and disposed adjacent to said first latch portion, and said second latch portion is integral with said first latch portion.

39. The combination for use with an associated building having a door-receiving opening therein, said combination comprising a door for pivotal mounting in the door-receiving opening and pivotal between a closed position and an open position with respect to the opening, a first base on said door adjacent to one side thereof and disposed above the center of gravity thereof when said door is in the closed position thereof, a counterbalancing weight on said first base and movable with said door between a raised station when said door is in the closed position thereof and a lowered station when said door is in the open position thereof, said door and said counterbalancing weight being constructed and arranged to bias said door toward the closed position thereof under the urging of gravity, a first keeper on said first base and movable therewith between a door-holding condition and a door-releasing condition, a second base for pivotally mounting adjacent to said first base, a door-opening weight on said second base and movable therewith between a raised position when said door is in the closed position thereof and a lowered position when said door is in the open position thereof, said door-opening weight being constructed and arranged so as to be biased toward the lowered position thereof under the urgingof gravity, a second keeper on said second base and movable therewith between a weight-holding condition and a weight-releasing condition, a door-opening member on said counterbalancing weight and disposed adjacent to said door-opening 'weight and engageable therewith to move said door from the closed position to the open position thereof as said door-opening weight moves from the raised position to the lowered position thereof, a latch including a first latch portion for co-operation with said first keeper and a second latch portion for co-operation with said second keeper, said first latch portion having a door-holding condition wherein it engages said first keeper to hold said door in the open position thereof against the urging of gravity and having a door-releasing condition wherein it is disengaged from said first keeper to permit closing of said door under the urging of gravity, said second latch portion having a weight-holding condition wherein it engages said second keeper to hold said door-opening weight in the raised position thereof against the urging of gravity and having a weightqeleasing condition wherein it is disengaged from said second keeper to release said door-opening weight into engagement with said door-opening member automatically to open said door under the urging of gravity, an actuator selectively operable at one time on said latch for selectively operating said first latch portion between the door-holding condition and the door-releasing condition thereof and selectively operable at another time on said latch for selectively operating said second latch portion between the weight-holding condition and the weightreleasing condition thereof, and a selector for selectively rendering said actuator operable to change the condition of only one of said first and second latch portions at one time to cause positive operation of the selected one of said latch portions by said actuator.

40. The combination set forth in claim 39, wherein said first base is a disc having a notch in the periphery thereof for forming said first keeper, said second base is a disc having a notch in the periphery thereof for forming said second keeper, and said latch is slidably supported so as to be movable through said notches.

41. The combination set forth in claim 39, wherein said latch is slidably movable through said base and said actuator is operably coupled to one end of said latch for effecting sliding movement thereof, and said selector includes a hook on the other end of said latch for selective abutment against said first and second bases to control the position of said latch.

42. The combination set forth in claim 39, wherein said latch is slidably movable through said bases and said actuator is operably coupled to one end of said latch for effecting sliding movement thereof in a first direction toward said bases and in a second direction away from said bases, said actuator includes a compression spring urging said latch through said first and second bases in said first direction, and said selector includes a hook on the other end of said latch and a limiting member of said first base to limit the excursion of said latch in said first direction in response to the action of said spring.

43. The combination set forth in claim 39, wherein said latch is slidably movable through said bases, and said latch has a notch therein for movably receiving said first base in the door-releasing condition of said first latch portion and for pivotally receiving said second base in the weight-releasing condition of said second latch portion.

44. The combination set forth in claim 39, wherein said actuator is operably coupled to one end of said latch and said selector includes a hook on the other end of said latch, and said first base is a disc having a notch in the periphery thereof for movement of said hook and said latch therethrough.

45. The combination set forth in claim 39, wherein said actuator includes a plate for hinged mounting to the building adjacent to said first and second bases, said latch is carried by said plate and is slidably movable therewith in a first direction toward said bases and in a second direction away from said bases, a compression spring coupled to said plate for urging said latch through said bases in said first direction, a hydraulically operated motor having a cylinder on said plate and a piston pin operatively mounted in said cylinder, and a reaction member for mounting to the building adjacent to said plate and having a reaction surface operatively coupled to said piston pin, said motor being operative to urge said piston pin against said reaction surface to move said latch through said bases in said second direction.

4'6. The combination set forth in claim 39, wherein said selector includes a hook integral with said latch and disposed adjacent to said first latch portion, and second latch portion is integral with said first latch portion.

47. The combination for use with an associated building having a door-receiving opening therein, said combination comprising a door for use in the associated doorreceiving opening, first and second support brackets for attachment to the associated building respectively adjacent to the sides of the door-receiving opening, first and second bases on said door respectively adjacent to the sides thereof and disposed above the center of gravity thereof, first and second pivot connections respectively pivotally mounting said bases to said support brackets to permit pivoting of said door between a closed position and an open position with respect to the associated doorreceiving opening, a counterbalancing weight on said first base and movable with said door between a raised station above the center of gravity of said door and a lowered station, said counterbalancing weight being arranged and constructed with respect to said door to be biased toward the closed position thereof under the urging of gravity, a first keeper on said first base and movable therewith between a door-holding condition and a doorreleasing condition, a third base pivotally mounted on said first support bracket by means of said first pivot connections, a door-opening weight on said third base and movable therewith between a raised position above the center of gravity of said door and a lowered position, said door-opening weight being arranged and constructed so as to be biased toward the lowered position thereof under the urging of gravity, a second keeper on said third base and movable therewith between a weight-holding condition and a weight-releasing condition, a door-opening member on said counterbalancing weight and disposed adjacent to said door-opening weight and engageable therewith to move said door from the closed position to the opened position thereof as said door-opening weight moves from the raised position to the lowered position thereof, a latch including a first latch portion for cooperation with said first keeper and a second latch portion for cooperation with said second keeper, said first latch portion having a door-holding condition wherein it engages said first keeper to hold said door in the open position thereof against the urging of gravity and having a door-releasing condition wherein it is disengaged from said first keeper to permit closing of said door under the urging of gravity, said second latch portion having a weight-holding condition wherein it engages said second keeper to hold said door-opening weight in the raised position thereof against the urging of gravity and having a weight-releasing condition wherein it is disengaged from said second keeper to release said door-opening weight into engagement with said door-opening member automatically to open said door under the urging of gravity, an actuator selectively operable at one time on said latch for selectively operating said first latch portion between the door-holding condition and the door-releasing condition thereof and selectively operable at another time on said latch for selectivel operating said second latch portion between the weight-holding condition and the Weightreleasing condition thereof, and a selector for selectively rendering said actuator operable to change the condition of only one of said first and second latch portions at one time to cause positive operation of the selected one of said latch portions by said actuator.

48. The combination set forth in claim 47, wherein said first base is a disc disposed adjacent to one side of said first support bracket, and said second base is a disc disposed adjacent to the other side of said first support bracket.

49. The combination set forth in claim 47, wherein said counterbalancing weight includes a substantially rigid arm on said first base and a counterbalancing mass on said arm and disposed outwardly of said first base, and wherein said door-opening member includes a tongue on said counterbalancing weight for engagement by said door-opening weight.

50. The combination set forth in claim 47, wherein said door-opening weight comprises a substantially rigid arm on said second base and a door-opening mass on said arm and disposed outwardly of said third base.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,217,761 1 0/1940 McFarlane et a1 49-200 2,293,462 8/1942 Haynes 49--200 FOREIGN PATENTS 989,553 4/1965 Great Britain 49-197 200,746 12/1965 Sweden 49-199 J. KARL BELL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

